John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Persistent faith matures into the fruit of faithfulness.
“Faith” is a power gift that accompanies the anointing of the Holy Spirit; however, ‘faithfulness’ is one of the facets of the fruit of the Spirit. Persistent faith that grows through the silence, storms and stillness matures into the fruit of faithfulness. Hence, fruitfulness is the true test of faithfulness.
Fruits are graded based on the physical appearance, quality, and condition, including size, weight, shape, color, and maturity. Taste of the fruit can be determined by the smell and the touch-texture of the fruit. Similarly, in the spiritual realm, we are graded based on the integrity and the succulency of the fruit we produce. A fruit can look good but taste sour or tasteless. The taste of our spiritual fruitfulness determines the power of our testimony.
Jesus said, “go and bear fruit that will last”. Fruitfulness of a tree will start slowing down as it reaches the end of its lifespan. However, a Christian should bear more fruit and lasting fruit as we get closer to our finish line on the earth. We must bear abundant fruit and luscious fruit that will last beyond our lifetime. The taste of our fruit that we bear and leave behind should bless generations after we are gone.
There was a woman named Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek) who was always doing good and helping the poor (Acts 9:36b). When she died the widows had gathered around Peter showing the robes and other clothing that she had made for them. Bible scholars believe that she must have died prematurely in her middle-age. Peter raised her from her back to life.
Fruitfulness:
- Satiate: Our fruitfulness will satiate the hunger of the lost.
- Serve: The most influential way to serve God is not from the pulpit, but from the pews—through love, patience, goodness, kindness, and meekness.
- Sumptuous: If the fruit we bear is succulent and sumptuous we will automatically attract the lost, hungry and impoverished.
Spiritual fruitfulness determines spiritual influence on others.
Prayer: Father God, nourish me to produce luscious fruit that serves and satiates the needy. Amen.
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